The Real L Word star Francine Beppu dies at her home in Hawaii at 43 after coming out on reality series

Francine Beppu, who rose to fame on The Real L Word, has died at the age of 43.

The television personality passed away on Tuesday, February 17, at her home in Honolulu, Hawaii, a spokesperson for her family confirmed in a statement.

Her manner of death has not yet been revealed.

In a statement shared on Monday and obtained by TMZ, Beppu's family thanked her friends and colleagues for their support.

They said they were 'deeply grateful to know how cherished she was and how brightly she will continue to shine.' 

Her family requested privacy during the difficult time and said they will later be announcing plans for a celebration of life to honor the reality star. 

Beppu is best known for starring on The Real L Word, which she joined when she was 28.

The series ran for three seasons, from June 2010 until September 2012. 

The Showtime reality series followed the lives and romantic relationships of lesbians living in Los Angeles and New York City. 

Beppu's castmates included her ex-girlfriend, Claire Campbell Moseley, who joined the show for the second season when she moved to Los Angeles with Beppu. 

During the second season, Beppu's major storylines focused on her relationship with her mother and her tumultuous relationship with her ex, Moseley. 

Beppu left the show at the end of the second season.

In 2015, she moved back to Hawaii and began working with the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation, eventually becoming the president of the organization. 

After attending the Honolulu Pride parade in 2015, she became a volunteer at the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation, before later becoming co-chair of the marketing committee and joining the board of directors. 

She also worked as the vice president of network strategy for NMG Network. 

According to her Instagram profile, she founded a public benefit corporation and golf club called Badliars Collective. 

Her latest social media posts were in late December when she said she had 'big announcements dropping soon' for her brand. 

Back in 2022, she shared her story about coming out to her family and friends for the Hawaii Herald's inaugural Pride issue. 

She recalled how she was closeted until she moved away from her hometown of Nu'uanu, Oahu, to attend college at New York University. 

Reflecting on her childhood, as the only child of her Sansei father and Japanese national mother, she said at the time: 'I didn't have anyone to really relate to. There was always this feeling of guilt that I hung upon myself.' 

She later moved to Los Angeles in 2008 and was given the opportunity to join The Real L Word, a spinoff of Showtime's 2000 show The L Word. 

Beppu, who was one of the show's six cast members, came out to her mother on camera when she was 28.

'There were some tears but at the end of the day, my mom wants what's best for me,' she said. 'No, seriously, my parents are great. They've been very accepting. I'm really lucky to have them.' 

Beppu previously opened up about how her coming out story airing on television inspired other 'Asian closeted lesbians.'

'I didn't realize my coming out story would have such an impact on other people in the way that it did,' she said in a video interview with Sa'Ke Film Group for National Coming Out Day in November 2022. 

Beppu recalled how 'stressful' it was for her at the time, coming out to her family on camera. 

'I think that by having more of these conversations, it really shows a sense of community,' she said. 'We're all here for each other. We all support each other. At the end of the day, you have to live for your own happiness. The people around you, who still love you, will want you to be happy.' 

Beppu added: 'At the end of the day, we're all human. We go through the same emotions. One difference: when you're LGBTQ, you have to "come out," and I don't think a lot of people know how difficult that is. So it's about continuing to have these stories be told, to help us all better understand and be there for each other.'